Virat Kohli set to be rested, Rohit to captain during Nidahas Trophy 2018

After a gruelling tour of South Africa, India look set to rest several key stars including captain Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and the fast bowling duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah according to reports. In Kohli's absence, Rohit Sharma looks set to step in as temporary captain once again.

India will return home after a long tour of South Africa that had three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is. The likes of Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah featured throughout the tour and are set to get some well-deserved rest with some youngsters set to be a part of the team.

“What is the point of sending these cricketers after such a hectic South African tour?” a team source said.

Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is in line for a recall to the T20I side, especially after being seen in conversation with the chairman of selectors MSK Prasad during a Vijay Hazare match at the Palam cricket ground.

Aside from the fresh faces, the focus will largely be on resting key members of the Indian side and giving them a month off before their next assignment, which will be the IPL that begins on April 7.

"If Virat wants rest, he will get it. In Virat's case, it's he who decides on whether he would like to opt out or not. But you never know he might just want to play the T20 series as this is the last tourney of the season. Once the tournament is over, he will get a fortnight off before the Indian Premier League," a top BCCI official told PTI.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India will go up against each other for the Nidahas Trophy, which begins on 6 March and culminates with the final on 18 March. The squad for the tournament is likely to be picked on Sunday.